UIS students collect over 11,000 pounds of food

Over 200 University of Illinois Springfield students helped to collect 11,147 pounds of food for the Central Illinois Foodbank on Halloween night.

A total of 18 teams of students went door-to-door in several Springfield neighborhoods Trick or Treating for Canned Goods.

“Last year we collected 6,800 pounds of food. Despite rainy weather and thanks to the generosity of the Springfield community, this year our dedicated students were able to collect almost twice that amount,” said Mark Dochterman, director of the UIS Volunteer & Civic Engagement Center.

Earlier this month, the teams canvassed neighborhoods and distributed door hangers that explained the project. Collected items were returned and weighed at Quaker Steak and Lube Thursday night following the drive. Prizes were awarded to the teams that collect the most food.

The Leadership for Life Program won the overall prize by collecting 1,353 pounds of food. Lambda Pi Eta, the communication honor society on campus, won the most pounds per team member award by gathering 1,042 pounds of food with only four team members.

The Central Illinois Foodbank distributes over 9.5 million pounds of food annually to over 150 food pantries, soup kitchens, residential programs and after-school programs in a 21 county region.

For more information, or if you have food that was not collected please contact the UIS Volunteer Center at 217/206-7716 or volunteer@uis.edu.